December 7, 2011: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

AP

Pusuke, World's Oldest Dog, Dies at 26

After living a good, long life, Pusuke, who was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living dog, died peacefully in Japan this week at age 26. That puts him at well over 100 in human years. The owner of the mixed-breed dog said Pusuke died just after she returned home. “I think he waited for me to come home,” she said, according to the Kyodo news agency.

Believe it or not, Pusuke wasn’t the oldest dog on record at Guinness. An Australian cattle dog lived to be 29 years old in 1939. — Read it at ABC News

Good News for Baggage Handler Who Refused to Load Sick Dog

Yesterday, we told you about a baggage handler at Nevada’s Reno-Tahoe International Airport who was fired after refusing to load a sick hunting dog onto a plane bound for Corpus Christi, Texas. After investigating the incident, Airport Terminal Services offered Lynn Jones her job back, including back pay for the three weeks she had been out of work. The company also promised to donate money to the Nevada Humane Society. As of Tuesday night, Jones was still deciding whether to accept the offer. — Read it at Fox News

Hero Dog Saves Kittens Left in Bag on the Road

Regan, a yellow Lab, is being praised for saving the lives of two kittens who’d been callously stuffed inside a bag and left on the street. The dog brought the bag home and wouldn’t stop whining until his owner opened it, finding two kittens who were struggling for life inside. Tipper and Skipper survived and are available for adoption. — Read it at CBS News

Vet Reports Santa’s Reindeer Fit for Christmas Duty

Dr. Rene Carlson, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the North Pole’s “official” veterinarian, gave Santa’s reindeer a clean bill of health and cleared them for takeoff on Christmas Eve. — Read it at DVM360, see photos on Facebook and watch video on YouTube

Whales Caught Sleeping on Video

Who doesn’t deserve a nap? Researchers caught a pod of sperm whales sleeping in the open ocean. Whales sleep in two positions, either in a “dive-like” one just below the surface or in a “nose-straight-up" position. — Watch it at Discovery News

Gay Penguins in China Help Raise Chick

A male penguin couple at Harbin Polar Land in northern China has been given a chick to care for, to help a mother penguin who was struggling to take care of her recently hatched twins. The story comes weeks after the public outcry over Buddy and Pedro, the same-sex penguin pair in Toronto, who were separated for mating season. The zoo there announced recently that they’ll be reunited after the season’s over. — Read it at the Huffington Post

Rare Leopard Spotted by Camera Trap

A Persian leopard thought to be extinct in the central highlands of Afghanistan was captured checking out a camera trap in the area. The cameras also caught pictures of wolves, lynx, wild cats and more. — See photos at National Geographic